historical ww2 web site of lesser known facts

[greyrider]

This website is a compilation of facts gathered from various sources including encyclopedias, almanacs, magazines,
newspapers and the hundreds of books published since the end of WWII. A summary of facts that are considered not to be of common knowledge.


http://members.iinet.net.au/~gduncan/index.html


lesser known facts of ww2
maritime disasters of ww2
massacres and atrocities of ww2
women of the third reich
assassination attempts on hitlers life

guys that like to mod, make historical missions, or interested in some history of ww2, might like to review this website. all
Theaters of ww2 here.

an example:
A NEAR DISASTER (October 30,1939)
The German submarine U-56, commanded by Lieutenant Wilhelm Zahn, found itself bang in the middle of a contingent of the
British Home Fleet sailing just west of the Orkney Islands. Leading the contingent was the battleship HMS Rodney followed by
the HMS Nelson and HMS Hood, all surrounded by a protective screen of destroyers. Here was the U-56, sitting at periscope depth
in an ideal firing position and straight ahead was the Flagship of the Fleet, HMS Nelson. Elated, Zahn fired three torpedoes at
the target which was impossible to miss. Two of the torpedoes actually hit the Nelson but did not explode! The U-56 made a quick
getaway. Had the torpedoes exploded, the V.I.P.s on board the Nelson would have been in great danger. They had gathered for a
conference to determine what action had to be taken after the sinking of the Royal Oak at Scapa flow. The illustrious guests
included the C-in-C Home Fleet, Admiral Sir Charles Forbes, the First Sea Lord, Admiral of the Fleet, Sir Dudley Pound,
and Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Winston Churchill! This heaven sent opportunity caused Admiral Karl Donetz, the German U-boat supremo,
to write in his war diary "Without doubt, the torpedo inspectors have fallen down on their job ... at least 30% of our torpedoes are duds!"
Gunther Prien, hero of Scapa Flow, remarked "How the hell do they expect us to fight with dummy rifles". Without doubt this was a
great embarrassment to the German Navy - 31 U-boat attacks from favourable positions, 4 attacks on the Warspite, 12 attacks on various cruisers,
10 attacks on destroyers and 5 attacks on troop transports - without a single hit! All torpedoes failed to explode. How lucky we were!